PowerCom and Alfen work together for advanced Micro-Grid management and control

PowerCom Successfully Integrates a Micro-Grid System and Smart Meters Using Real-Time Grid Frequency

PowerCom Successfully
Integrates a Micro-Grid System and Smart Meters Using Real-Time Grid Frequency

PETACH-TIKVA, Israel, March 14,
2017

In
collaboration with Alfen b.v (“Alfen”), PowerCom Ltd. (“PowerCom”) smart
meters have been tested with Alfen’s SOPRA system for advanced Micro-Grid
management and control.

Alfen offers sustainable off-grid power
solution for rural applications commonly known as SOPRA. The SOPRA system is a
combined energy delivery and storage system, highly appropriate for remote
areas. The power can be generated by renewable sources like solar, wind, hydro or
conventional sources like diesel generators.

The system employs a new advanced smart
meter developed by PowerCom, a meter with built-in under-frequency
functionalities that will enable the realization of a fully deployable micro
grid management platform capable to effectively perform real-time control and
optimization of the distribution grid. These smart meters enable the option to
disconnect loads in less than 70 milliseconds when certain predefined frequency
values are reached. The scheme allows the removal of specific loads from each
individual customer over the distribution grid, without the need to cause a
regional blackout. It permits the implementation of a technique similar to the
one applied on contemporary power systems but applied over the Low Voltage
network, disconnecting individual consumers/loads.

With the built-in under-frequency
functionality of the meters utilities can elect which customers will be
disconnected and each customer may be predefined by a different frequency value.
The disconnection levels can be remotely configured through PowerCom’s Meter
Data Management (MDM) software. This breakthrough allows differentiated and
gradual load shedding for an improved load management. Thus, blackouts will not
affect the same consumers as is common practice until now.

When a large number of smart meters are
connected to the system, it might experience instability due to sudden load
changes if all the smart meters are switched ON/OFF at the same time due to
change in frequency. Therefore, the smart meters have functionality to switch
OFF in random within a given period of time to avoid a sudden change in the
load. Furthermore, the rules of restarting power can be predefined (restore
power after 30 minutes, restore after 60 minutes and etc.)

The advanced smart meter can be
connected with appliance relays (APRs) which are digital outputs capable of
shedding a partial load at the customer premises, for example disconnection of
only the air-conditioners or hot water boilers in the initial phase, provided
they are connected in distinct circuits. Last but not least, over-consuming
customers will be selectively disconnected, while other customers will not be
limited or disconnected including at risk customers (elderly, sick) and
essential service providers.

PowerCom offers a prepaid and vending
management energy system that will enable the customer to “top-up” the meters
online. The system is also designed to support dynamic tariff pricing according
to real-time frequency levels. Customers
can use keypads (customer interface units) or the customer portal to access tariff
information and monitor consumption.

PowerCom solution ensures the frequency
stability of the system without excessive signaling and avoiding the
instability, fluctuations and inconvenience that the conventional load shedding
causes. The system has been tested in a real power system. The smart micro grid
solution enhances the control and efficiency of the network through the deployment
of innovative distributed intelligence within the smart meter which reacts in
real-time and does not rely on the communication infrastructure.

About
PowerCom Ltd.

PowerCom
Ltd. was established in 2006. PowerCom is a leader in the research &
development, marketing and supply of smart grid solutions, as a complete
platform based on software and hardware devices. For more information visit www.powercom.co.il

About
Alfen b.v.

Alfen b.v. (Pvt. Ltd.) was established
in 1937 and currently is the market leader in The Netherlands in the

field of transformer stations and
Electric Vehicle Charging stations. It is a part of the TBI group since

1971 which is an established
construction and installation company in the country of The Netherlands.